Venetian blind tilter



Jan. 6, 1942. H. K. LORENT ZEN 2, 2 vlmE'rnu Emmi 121mm Filed June 11,1941 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 6, 1942.

H. K. LORENTZEN 'V'ENETIAN BLIND TILTER Filed June 11, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2- BY MWI' M ATTORNEYS provide Patented Jan. 6, 1942VENETIAN BLIND TILIER Hans K. Lorentzen, Montclair, N. .L, assignor toLorentzen Hardware .Mfg. Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application June 11, 1941, Serial No. 397,535

9 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blind tilters, and it is particularlyapplicable to tilters of the worm-and-gear type. v

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved tilterwhich encloses the operating mechanism and which is adapted to'l ow costquantity production;

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosed tilter adaptedfor manufacture largely from stamped sheet metal parts, and adapted toprovide uniformly reliable and sturdy tilters when made on a quantityproduction basis.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rugged,reliable, and inexpensive tilter adapted to be produced on a quantityproduction basis largely from stamped sheet metal parts.

Various other and detailed objects of the inventlon will be obvious fromthe following disclosure of two forms of tilters exemplifyingtheinvention.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a front elevation of a socalled up-side-downtilter embodying the present invention.

.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tilter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tilter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom'plan view of the tilter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the tilter as -itwould appear with the near section of the housing removed and showingpart of the pulley in section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary partly diagrammatic vertical section taken ingeneral on the line 6-6 of Fig; 5. h

Fig. '7 is an isometric view of bridging means which tie the housingmembers together and a bearing for the worm shaft.

Fig. 8-is a side elevation of the worm-driven gear which is incorporatedin the tilter.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the gear shown .in Fig. 8, looking fromthe right of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a so-called rightside-up" tilterembodying the present invention. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of thetilter shown in Fig. 10. r

Fig. l2-is a top plan view of the tilter shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is an isometric view of a connector member used with the tiltershown in Figs. 10

the tilter through 13.

Fig. 15 is a second isometric view of the connector member, theconnector being shown in a tumed-over position with respect to theposition shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an end view of the connector member, looking fromthe left ofFig. 15.

the mouth of each cup formation. These shells fit togethermouth-to-mouth and enclose an intervening space in which is mounted awormand-gear unit. Each of the cup-like shells may be made of stampedsheet metal, and each is provided with a perforated mounting flange 24to be screwed on top of a suitable support, e. g. on top of the bottomwall of an enclosed headbar. From the bottoms a and 2Ia of the cupformations, there project outwardly tubular bosses 25, '25 which act asbearings for the wormdriven gear or gear-sector. At 26, 26 (Figs. 3 and4) the two cup-like shells are provided with interfittingtongue-and-groove formations which assist in registering the two shellsin mouth-tomouthvrelationship. Each of the shells 20 and 2! is providedwith a semicircular cut-out as at 21 (Fig. 6) and with notches 28 and29, all of which register respectively when the two shells are inmouth-to-mouth contact.

On the end of a drive shaft 30 there is affixed a cord pulley 3| forrotating the shaft. Telescoped onto the shaft and adjacent to the pulleyis a bearing collar 32 made of suitable bearing metal. This bearingcollar has a tubular shank portion 32a adapted to act as a bearing forthe shaft 30, and has an annular flange portion 32b adapted to act as athrust bearing and/or to prevent excessive longitudinal motion of thebearing collar on the shaft 30. After the bearing collar has been put inplace on the shaft, there is telescoped onto the shaft a U-shapedmember, designated as a whole by 34, between the legs of which there isplaced a worm 35 that is telescoped onto the shaft 30 at the same time.Shaft 30 is provided with suitable projections or serrations (not shown)over which the worm 35 is forced and which appropriately attach the wormmembers 38 and 31 are provided with singlenosed projections 38 (fourshown) and with double-nosed projections (four shown). In

assembly, these projections pass through rectangular holes in thebottoms a and Ho of the cup formations 2|] and 2|, the noses of theprojections 38 and 38 being then upset or riveted to secure the shells20 and 2| in mouth-tomouthlrjelationship. when so assembled, shouldersa.andb of the bridge members preferably abutagainst the bottoms 20a and21a of the cup formations; Brldge=member I6 has a hole 38a '(Fig. "1)"whichacts as a bearing for the end of shaft 30 rernote from the pulley.Bridge member 31 has a largenhole 21a which clears the shaft so thatcollar 32 can properly act as a bearing for the pulley end of shaft 80.

' which the tilter is used. As shown in the drawings, the gear 48 is acast one, with the result that the hexagonal hole 48 has its minimumsize at the center with draft each way from the center to the ends of'the gear. The ends of the gear are provided with cylindrical bearingportions 41 and 48 between which are the teeth 48. Cast integralwith-the teeth at one end thereof is an annular strengthening flange 58.In the cas of a full gear, which may be used in the tilter, the teeth 49extend entirely around the periphery of the gear. As shown in thedrawings', however, the teeth extend only partially around the peripheryof the gear, thereby con- 'stituting' a gear sector. A gear sector iswhen the tilter is constructed for automatic cord" adjustment accordingto Nelson Patent 2,174,994, datedfOctober 3, 1939. Projecting from thetwo ends of the gear are aligned indexes 8|, 8|. When the tilter is onefor automatic cord adjustment, the gear sector is so rotated at the timethe pulley cord is to be applied that an index BI is opposite a marksuch as arrow 82 (Fig. 2) on the outside of the casing. Then the cord isso applied that the free ends of the cord hang at the same level. Eachof the shells 28 and 2! is provided with a suitable mark such as arrow52, and each end of the gear 48 is provided with an index point 8| sothat the setting of the tilter can be made by looking at either.

sheet metal stamping having a zigzag generally vertical portion 58. Onthe bottom of this vertical portion there are twoopen cord loops 8'! and88' into which the pulley cord can be in serted', as described in mycopending application S. N. 353,020, filed August 17, 1940. The zigzagformation of the generally verticalportion 58 is such as to enable thevertical portion to pass laterallythrough aligned grooves 28 and alignedgrooves 29 in the edges of the cup formations 20 and 2|.

In assembly, there is placed in shell 20 the previdusly made assembly ofpulley 3i, shaft 30, hearing collar 32, stamping 40, and worm 35. In soplacing this assembly into shell 20, the bearingcollar 32 is received byone of the semi- 39 on one edge of bridge members 38 and 21 are insertedthrough the openings provided in the bottom 20a of the cup formationconstituting shell 28. Thus, shaft 30 projects outside of the housing sothat the pulley is outside of the housing. Gear 45 is then inserted withits cylindrical in Figs. 5 and 6, with theoilsets. in verticalsection 56in placein'notches 28 and29. 'I'heother cup-like shell 2i isthe ripump1. .m m uthto-mouth engagement I ll-a28'. This cuplike shell 2!alsoifhas semicircular cut-out, as at 21, which eifibiaces,the-other.halfr-of bearing collar 32; has cbrrespondijng notches which registerwith notches 28 and (29 to hold the cord guide 85; and has fourrectangular holes through which the projections 38 and 39 on the otheredges of bridge members 38 and 81 pass. Thus assembled, all of the eightprojections 38 and 39 have their noses upset or riveted; and this holdsthe tilter in fixedly assembled condition. In assembly, alignment of thetwo shells 28' and 2| is facilitated by the tongue and groove formationsat 28, 26 and also by the cord guide 58 which engages with the notches28 and 28 of both of the shells.

The construction of the so-called fright-sideup tilter shown in Figs. 10through 13 is similar to that of the so-called "up-side-down tilter.shown in Figs. 1 through 9; and the similarity is' I so great that the"right-side-up tilterwill be clearly understoodby considering the majordifferences between it'and the up-side-down" tilter which has alreadybeen described.

In the right-side-up tilter the mounting flanges I24, I24 are at thetop, so"that the tilter can be screwed to the bottom'ofahead-bar fromwhich the tilter will depend. The worm shaft I30 is above thejgear,145,} instead of in them-- verse relation shown-in Figs. 1 through 6..The cup-like shells H0. and HI are so shaped as to chamfer the housingat C, to. give clearance when the tilter is mounted. The gear'l" may beeither a full gear or a gear-sector; and it dllers from gear 45 (Figs. 8and 9) only in the shape of the axial opening, which is shaped toreceive a socalled mushroom connector shown in Figs. 14,

- l5 and 16.

- circular cut-outs 21, and the projections 38 and 76 The connector I0of Figs. 14, .15 and 18 is a unitary sheet metal stamping having toothedlegs H and I2 thatare adapted to be driven into the end of a wooden tiltbar. These legs project in.

one direction from a body portion 13; and-a end.

As shown in Fig. 11, the axial openingingear I48 has longitudinal ridgesl48a and 8b against which the flat faces of connectorgfstem IL-rest whenthe connector is telescopedinto the gear.

Gear I45 is interchangeable.;withfthe gear 48 so that either form ofgear can be used in. either form of tilter. Thus, either theup-side-down" or the right-side-up tilter can be made for cooperationwith either a hexagonal driven rod or with a mushroom connector of thetype shown in Figs. l4, l5 and 16. Also the gear can be made with anyother desired form of axial opening to cooperate with any form ofconnector that it may be desirable to use.

The collar 32 is made of suitable bearing metal such as brass or bronze.I have also successfully enough-to; blacken the parlance. this oil-is]used a bearing collar of compressed powdered metal containing alubricantso that this collar isself-lubrlcating.

worm-siandggear's -li and I45 may be made of suitable metaljsuch asbrass or bronze, and preferably; the gearis made of a metal softer than,that-. of 't'hefworin. One combination of metals that'I'havesuccessfully used is brass for the worm 'and"comme'rcial die cast metal(which is zinc or. predominantly zinc) for the gears 45 and H5. vGearsof this commercial die cast metal are preferably specially treated togive them increased wearing qualities and seif lubricating qualities. Atreatment which Ihave successfully .used is as follows. 1

The die cast gears are firstcleaned in a hot alkali rinse for which Ihave used a solution of five to six ounces of commercial swish cleanerper gallon of watenthe solution being used at a temperature close to theboiling point. After three or four minutes in this alkali rinse, thegears are removed and washed in water at room temperature. Then'the'gears are immersed in a weak hydrochloric acid: solution, which I havemade by addingtechnical twenty percent hydrochloric-acid to an equalvolume of water at room temperature. 1, Thejjti'nie of treatment withthe acid varies froma. -fr action of a minute to several minutes,depending upon the strength of the acid. Theacid; treatment should becontinued long gears to a dull black, but not long enough to undersizethe gears through gears arethoroughly rinsed in hot water. Then thegears are immersed from ten to fifteen minutes in a liquid sold on themarket under the name of Black Magic dip or die cast black. Thhrhardensthe black coating or surface of the gears. The gears are now rinsed inwater at room temperature. Finally, the gears are dipped for three orfour minutes in a hot oil dip, for which purpose 'I have used a watermiscible oil sold under the-"-name- ,of Hocut. In popular miscible withwater, though it may be agmixltn'fthe nature of an emulsion. This oil-"1 haVeusedinEthe proportion of one gallonof oii to-twofgfallons ofwater,-the mixture being at aitjei'nperaturefwhere it is almost white.In 'thedabovetreatment the acid apparently "imparts;a-certain -amount ofsurface porosity to the gear; the'iinal step the hot oil soaks into thegears, givi'r'ig'them a shiny finish and selflubricating. qualities.

In compliance with the patent statutes, I have disclosed the best formsin which I have contemplated applying my invention, but it will beunderstood that the disclosures are illustrativeof the invention ratherthan limiting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a Venetian blind tilter oi the type in which a worm-and-gear unitis mounted in a housing, the worm being on a shaft which proiectsoutside of the housing, and the shaft being provided with a drive pulleylocated outside of I the housing; the improvement which comprises: thehousing being formed by two flat-bottomed cup-like shells of'sheetmetal,the cup formations having mouths formed by the edges of the sheet metaland the two cup formations being secured together with the mouths inedge-to-edge contact; bridge members extending from one of saiddissolving action. After the acid treatment the 1 shells to the other;and said shaft being journalled in one of said bridge members.

h r wh sk space, bridge-meansextendingbetweensaidhous said internalspacei,'"'said.. 1 bridge means beinsfiattached to" th'a'housing shaftwhich prothe' shaft bein 2.;In a Venetian which is a worm-and-gearhousin the worm being on a jects outside of the housing, and providedwith a the housing; the improvement which comprises: the housing beingformed by two cup-like shells positioned mouth-to-mouth, and bridgemembers extending between the bottoms of the two cup formations andacting to secure the two shells together.

3. In a Venetian blind which a worm-and-gear unit is mounteddn ahousing, the worm be flfl n, FL EaftWhichprojects outside of thehousing;'aiid thelshaft being provided with 'adrive pulleyflocatedoutside of the housing; the improvement which comprises: the housingbeing "formed, by two" 'cup -IiKe'J shelIs positionedmouth-to-mouthbride ember tending between the? a e formations and .acti together,andsaid "s of said bridge members.

4 In a Venetian blind tilter of the type in which a worm-and-gear unitis mounted in. a housing, the worm being on a shaft which-pro,- Jectsoutside of the housing, and the shaft-being provided with a drive pulleylocated outside of the housing; the improvement which comprises: thehousing being formed by two housing members which fit together and leavevan internal space, bridge means extending between said housing membersand across said internal space, said bridge .means being attached to thehousing mem, bers and" acting to secure the housing members together. a

V 5. In a Venetian.-

gut of h m;.

he housing;- th impr vem wmcnwmn together and leave w an? internal ingmembers and across members and acting to. secure the housing memberstogether, and said shaft being journalled in said bridge means. 1 1

6. In a Venetian'blind tilter of the type in which a wormeand-gear unitis mounted in a housing, theworm being on a shaft which projects outsideof the housing, and the shaft being provided with a drive pulley locatedoutside of the housing; the improvement which comprises: the housingbeing formed by two housin'g'members which fit together and leave aninternal space, and two flat bridge members extending between saidhousing members and across said space, the bridge members havingshoulders -'positioned adjacent to the interior-oi the housing membersand having projections extending ghrough the housing members anddistorted to ecure the bridge members to the housing members and therebysecure the housing members together. 7

drive pulley located outside of tilter of the type in "giidrme ibtwo-noosmgnem space, and two flat bridge members extending between saidhousing members and across said space, the bridge members havingshoulders positioned adjacent to the interior of the housing members andhaving projections extending through the housing members and distortedto secure the bridge members to the housing members and thereby securethe housing members together, said shaft being journalied in one of saidbridge members.

8. In a Venetian 'blind tilter of the type in which a worm-and-gear unitis mounted in a housing, the worm being on a shaft which projectsoutside of the housing, and the shaft being provided with a drive pulleylocated outside of the housing; the improvement which comprises: thehousing being formed by two housing members which fit together and leavean internal space, and two flat bridge members extending between saidhousing members and across said space, the bridge members havingshoulders positioned adjacent to the interior of the housing members andhaving projections extending through the housing members and distortedto secure the bridge members to the housing members and thereby securethe housing members together, said bridge members being parts of asingle unitary sheet metal stamping.

9. In a Venetian blind tilter of the type in which a worm-and-gear unitis mounted in a housing, the worm being on a shaft which projectsoutside of the housing, and the shaft being provided with a drive pulleylocated outside of the housing; the improvement which comprises: thetilter including a premade sub-assembly of pulley, shaft, bearingcollar, worm, and bridge members; and the housing being formed byhousing members attached to said bridge members.

HANS K. LORENTZEN

